I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

Yuihama greeted Yukinoshita with a stiff smile, but when she noticed Himekoji, she was clearly startled and hurriedly looked at her collar. Himekoji, on the other hand, smiled and closed her book, saying, "Today is a day worth celebrating, so I'll just turn a blind eye."

Author's Note:

P.S.: Remember to vote for this book after you finish reading it!

Chapter 075: There's a dinner party, and [Touma Kazusa] says she wants to eat cake.

"Huh? So kind of you?"

"Don't say what's on your mind, you idiot."

"Waaah—"

Yui shrank back after being scolded and carefully sat down with Hachiman. She sat in the middle of the long table as if it were her right, Yukinoshita was on the left, Hachiman was on the right, and Himekoji leaned against the wall.

"But speaking of which... what's a day worth celebrating? Yukino's relationship with the student council president?" Yuihama secretly glanced at the two sitting far apart, but Yukinoshita hardened her face and said, "Yuihama-san, please don't joke like that. Didn't we say before that it was just a simple coincidence? We met Hachiman and his sister Komachi before we met you. Please don't treat all coincidences as inevitabilities in the future, okay?"

"Oh... Ahahaha, sorry, sorry."

Yuihama smiled ingratiatingly, but in her heart she sincerely hoped that Yukinoshita could date Himekoji. If that were the case, without Yukinoshita as a strong rival, it wouldn't be so difficult to win over Hachiman.

“It’s about you personally,” Yukinoshita said, taking out a wrapped gift box and placing it on the table. She smiled faintly and said, “Happy birthday, Yuihama-san.”

"Huh? I see... I see, thank you so much..." As she spoke, Yuihama seemed to remember something and suddenly looked at Himekoji, pointing at him in surprise, "Ah! So that's why you called me to the Service Club back then..."

“That’s right, so,” Himekoji also took out her gift box, stood up steadily, walked over and handed it to her, smiling as she said, “Happy birthday, Yuihama.”

"I didn't expect the student council president to prepare a gift for me."

"Take it. After all, we're members of the same department, and we might experience many more things together in the future."

"Thank you very much."

Yuihama bowed to Himekoji and accepted the gift from his hand.

“But it’s not just the two of us who prepared,” Himekoji said, turning to look at Hachiman. “What are you waiting for? Bring out your gifts too.”

"Stop talking nonsense," Hachiman retorted in a low voice, slowly took out his small gift box, gently pushed it over there, and continued to sit back in the chair, saying weakly, "I did prepare some nice things, but they're not for your birthday. Let's call it even now. I saved your dog, so all the favors you did for me are wiped clean."

After Hikigaya finished speaking, Yuihama continued speaking for quite a while, unwilling to give up. Finally, Yukinoshita ended the crisis with the sentence, "It's not your fault. Just blame it all on the perpetrators."

"I'm going back to work in the student council office."

"I also need to report to Ms. Hiratsuka that the missing persons list has been completed." Yukinoshita and Himekoji stood up together. Just as Himekoji was about to walk out the door, she turned back and said, "By the way, Yuihama, I suggest you go back and open the gifts that Yukinoshita and I gave you."

"Why...?" Yukinoshita looked at him in confusion, while Himekoji gently pushed her from behind and said, "Never mind, never mind, just go."

As they went downstairs, Yukinoshita broke the silence and asked, "Do you have some ulterior motive? You wouldn't have hidden something lewd in the gift box for Yuihama, would you? Like the Aki Tomoya incident that's been making headlines lately."

Just a short time ago, Aki Tomoya was crying and apologizing in front of the whole school.

"Why would you define me as someone who is extremely sexually frustrated in that area?"

"Aren't all high school boys like this?"

"...Perhaps most of them are, but don't include me."

Himekoji was willing to cancel his date with Yoko without hesitation just to take care of Kazusa. If he were really that kind of person, he would definitely have left Kazusa with Mrs. Shibata and gone to the "Witch's Tea Party" to have fun with Yoko.

"What you say is not very convincing."

"Do you really think so little of me?"

"It won't be high anyway." As they parted, Yukinoshita leaned against the stair railing and said with a slight smile, "Aren't you going to explain to me why you said that?"

Can't you tell?

"what?"

“I thought you wouldn’t miss it…maybe you haven’t yet,” Himekoji said slowly, her eyes flickering as she leaned against the stairwell wall. “Our gifts aren’t exactly expensive, but they’re not cheap for high school students either. So if Yui opens our gifts first, his will seem rather insignificant. Of course, I’ve calculated this based on Hikigaya’s usual living expenses. I want Yui to open his gift first…well, you could say it’s my way of being considerate of those two.”

"I see. You're surprisingly perceptive in certain matters. Is this what they call worldly wisdom? Hmm, hmm."

Yukinoshita nodded thoughtfully, as if talking to herself.

"I'd like to ask you what you meant by that ambiguous last sentence, 'Let's put all the blame on the perpetrators,' and why your expression was like that when you said it..."

"This has nothing to do with Himekoji. Well then, goodbye."

Yukinoshita fled as if running away, quickly heading towards Hiratsuka Shizuka's Japanese literature teacher's office, while Himekoji went up to the fourth floor to continue playing the piano with Kazusa.

"Come to my house this Saturday, I'll pick you up."

Today is the 22nd, Monday. Sunday is Kazusa's birthday. His mother told him that Kazusa was born just after midnight on the 28th. So Himekoji and his mother planned to bring Kazusa to his house to celebrate her birthday. They would arrive on the afternoon of the 27th and celebrate her birthday in the evening. Kazusa has probably forgotten about her own birthday, as she hasn't celebrated it much in recent years.

"Is that Aunt Daphne calling me?"

"Can't you just accept my invitation?"

"Well...it's not impossible, Saturday, right?"

"Yes, Miss Lingzi and I will pick you up on Saturday afternoon. Please have lunch a little later, as our family dinner is expected to start quite late tonight."

"Himekoji, was that cake you made at my house last time ordered by you? Make one yourself this time so I can try it; consider it my reward for keeping our appointment."

Kazusa glanced coldly at Himekoji, without directly stating that she wanted to eat the cake Himekoji made herself.

"No problem, I'll prepare a cake that will absolutely satisfy you."

"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to it a little."

Kazusa smiled slightly, closed her eyes, and continued playing the piano.

Failing grades, college entrance exams, criticism—none of that matters, as long as...

Author's Note:

P.S.: Remember to vote for this book after you finish reading it!

PS2: Please stop associating Himekoji Daphne Borgia with that VV. I never play games and don't know anything about Kantai Collection. This character is just a completely fictional creation of mine, combining elements of a mafia-like family, with some of my own aspirations added, like raising a little duck. I personally love little ducks but I can't raise one right now, so this character is kind of like a projection of myself, yeah, maybe ☆彡▽`)ノ.

Chapter 076 Therefore, [Hedgehog Cat Library] is for otaku.

Himekoji thought this week would go smoothly, and then she would happily celebrate Kazusa's birthday on Saturday night. After this birthday, Kazusa would turn eighteen, and apart from not being able to smoke or drink, she would be a real adult and would have the right to choose her own marriage. However, unexpectedly, a small accident happened on Thursday, and Kasumigaoka took the day off.

"I'm sorry, I'm exhausted because of the new book, and I'll probably have to rest at home for the next couple of days... Also, I think there's an interview scheduled for Saturday, and I'm planning to cancel it..." Kasumigaoka's weak voice slowly came through the microphone: "You must be very busy these past two days, right? I'm so sorry I can't help you... I might... no, don't worry about it, it's nothing."

"Poetry Feather".

"What's wrong? Why did your tone suddenly become so serious?"

"sorry..."

"It's okay, Linggan-kun, you don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, without you, where would Xia Shizi be today? If you blame yourself, I probably won't be able to write anything."

"I understand. Take care and make sure you get well soon."

After Himeko finished speaking, Kasumigaoka said something very quietly on the other end of the line and then hung up. Because her voice was so soft, Himeko didn't hear her at all. He mumbled a couple of things while holding the phone up and then silently put it back in his pocket.

Friday

"Moshi moshi, are you Mr. Himekoji Haruto?"

"you are?"

"I've heard so much about you. I'm Machida Sonoko from Hedgehog Cat Library. I'm the editor in charge of the poems and also the deputy editor-in-chief of Hedgehog Cat Library."

Machida Sonoko originally worked at Shinazugawa Bunko, but for some reason switched to Hedgehog Neko Bunko. Himekoji did some research in private and it seemed that the atmosphere inside the two companies was very different. At that time, Kasumigaoka submitted her work to Hedgehog Neko Bunko after listening to Himekoji's advice, but unexpectedly, Machida Sonoko still became her editor. Himekoji could only take this as an adjustment of the world's will.

"You say you've heard so much about me... but I haven't actually done anything that you would praise."

"Not at all, you're too kind," Ms. Yuanzi paused, as if flipping through a notebook, and then said, "As far as I know, the two light novels published by Xiaoshi were written with outlines given to her by you, so as Xiaoshi's most important behind-the-scenes person, you are naturally someone that our library must take seriously."

"So Shiyu told you all about these things... Oh well, it's not a big deal. Is there anything you need?"

"Here's the thing, I contacted Xiaoshi today and she said she's basically recovered, so I invited her to tomorrow's interview. However, no matter what I do, Xiaoshi won't go, which is really giving me a headache. That's why I contacted you, hoping you could be a guest interviewer for tomorrow's interview with Xiaoshi. If you come, Xiaoshi will definitely come."

Himekoji was puzzled, feeling like she'd seen this scene somewhere before. After thinking for a while, it suddenly dawned on her: Oh, it's because I replaced Aki Tomoya's scene...

"Normally I wouldn't be reluctant to attend, but as far as I know, Shiyu almost collapsed due to working on her new book. Considering her health, I don't really want to attend, and I hope she can cancel tomorrow's interview."

"Please wait a moment. I already asked Xiaoshi today, and she confirmed that she has recovered. It seems that she was just too nervous. Tomorrow's interview is really important, so please, please do not delay!"

"...I'll have to call her first before I decide whether to call you back."

"Thank you very much. I will be ready to call you anytime."

After saying that, Ms. Sonoko waited for Himeko to hang up the phone. Himeko then contacted Kasumigaoka again, and she indeed said that she had recovered and was in good spirits. She chatted with Himeko for a while, and her voice sounded quite cheerful. So Himeko felt relieved and called Ms. Sonoko back, deciding to attend tomorrow's interview.

Furthermore, according to Ms. Sonoko, there will be a meet-and-greet the day after the interview, Sunday. Kasumigaoka will stay overnight at the Jefferson WAGO Hotel, and will meet Ms. Sonoko at the front desk at 8:00 AM the next morning.

"It seems like the two events are connected," Himekoji thought to herself.

So at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Reiko took Himekoji to the Hedgehog Cat Bunko headquarters. Presumably because Tokyo's housing prices were too high, the branch was located in Chiba, which was convenient for Himekoji to come. Reiko wandered around aimlessly. Just call her when you want to leave. The plan is to pick up Kazusa in the afternoon.

"Hello, do you have an appointment?"

The lovely receptionist smiled sweetly, and her name tag read "Amano Touko." Amano Touko? Tell me! What exactly is your relationship with Amano Touko?!

“Ms. Machida Sonoko made an appointment. She told me to come to meeting room number four at this time.”

"Ah, so you must be Mr. Himekoji, right? Please come this way."

Orange was slightly surprised for a moment. She didn't expect the rumored Ji Xiaolu to be so young and handsome. She blushed slightly and led Ji Xiaolu to the elevator, and even pressed the button for the 11th floor, the floor where the fourth meeting room was located.

Upon arriving on the 11th floor, the first thing that caught her eye was the Book Girl in a cheongsam. As for what "Book Girl" meant instead of "Hedgehog Girl," Ji Xiaolu wasn't quite sure, but she seemed to have a pretty good figure and a strong otaku vibe. Young staff members walked around with folders in their hands, and there didn't seem to be any older members. It seemed like a young company. After asking around, Ji Xiaolu finally found meeting room number four and knocked on the door.

Three seconds later, the conference room door opened, and Ms. Yuanzi blushed slightly when she faced Ji Xiaolu. Then, she asked in a daze, "Excuse me, did you come to the wrong place?"

"You must be Ms. Machida. I am Haruto Himekoji. It's nice to meet you."

Ji Xiaolu lowered her head slightly.

"Ah! You, you are—! I'm so sorry... I didn't expect you to be so young!" Miss Yuanzi apologized as she quickly ushered Himeko in, smiling and muttering, "Really, that girl Shi has never shown me a picture of you, so I thought you must be a much older gentleman. I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you at first..."

"It's alright, it's alright." Himeko waved her hand to indicate that she didn't mind. At this moment, Ms. Machida quickly took out a dark green business card and handed it to him, saying, "Please feel free to contact me anytime with any questions about Shizuku. Thank you!"

Author's Note:

P.S.: Remember to vote for this book after you finish reading it!

PS2: The full cover image will be posted at the end of the first chapter after the book is released. I spent 100 yuan on this cover... although the quality isn't very high.